Cumbria IBC, Carlisle, Cumbria:
Welsh International Open Qualifier 4 quarter-finals:
James McLarrie (Coatbridge) bt Ian McIntosh (Hebburn) 10-2, 6-2
Stuart Cruickshank (Elgin & District) bt Darren Burnett (Arbroath & District) 2-7, 9-3, 2-0
Alan Theobold (Stanley) bt Stuart Airey (Carlisle) 4-8, 9-2, 2-0
Robert Chisholm (The Parks, North Shields) bt Mark Allison (West Lothian) 6-3, 6-3
Semi-finals:
Stuart Cruickshank (Elgin & District) bt James McLarrie (Coatbridge) 8-5, 3-7, 2-1
Robert Chisholm (The Parks) bt Alan Theobold (Stanley) 8-2, 5-3
Final
Robert Chisholm bt Stuart Cruickshank 10-1, 0-8, 2-1
Welsh International Open Qualifier 5 quarter-finals:
Michael Stepney (Elgin & District) bt Jamie Higgins (East Lothian) 5-5, 10-4
John Candlish (Prestwick) bt Gordon McKenzie (Coatbridge) 8-3, 5-9, 2-0
John McHutchison (Coatbridge) bt Alan Lawton (Stanley) 2-7, 8-2, 2-0
Greig Douglas (Bon Accord) bt John Aitken (West Lothian) 4-6, 6-4, 2-1
Semi-finals:
John Candlish (Prestwick) bt Michael Stepney (Elgin & District) 5-4, 6-5
John McHutchison (Coatbridge) bt Greig Douglas (Bon Accord) 8-2, 3-6, 2-0
Final:
John Candlish bt John McHutchison 7-4, 5-4
Bristol IBC:
Welsh International Open Qualifier 6 quarter-finals:
Paul Taylor (Ogwr, Bridgend) bt Tim Jones (Mid Glos, Gloucester) 2-10, 10-6, 2-0
Lee Williamson (Mid Glos, Gloucester) bt Matthew Hyde (Foxhill, Aylesbury) 6-5, 4-6, 2-0
Craig Jones (Heatherton, Pembrokeshire) bt Clive Benham (Taunton) 9-4, 5-4
Nigel Leigh (Cardiff) bt Chris Eadie (Belfast) 9-3, 8-1
Semi-finals:
Paul Taylor (Ogwr, Bridgend) bt Lee Williamson (Mid Glos) 11-2, 5-1
Craig Jones (Heatherton) bt Nigel Leigh (Cardiff) 4-7, 7-3, 2-0
Final:
Paul Taylor (Ogwr, Bridgend) bt Craig Jones (Heatherton) 9-2, 7-3
Welsh International Open Qualifier 7 quarter-finals:
Andrew Cowlin (Taunton) bt Robert Paxton (Exonia, Exeter) 7-3, 6-6
Jarrad Breen (Rhondda) bt David Prosser (Cynon Valley) 2-7, 8-6, 2-1
Michael Newcombe (Cardigan) bt Martin Selway (Islwyn, Pontypool) 4-7, 7-5, 2-1
Neil Chandler (Cotswold) bt Phillip Carpenter (Cynon Valley) 9-2, 8-4
Semi-finals:
Andrew Cowlin (Taunton) bt Jarrad Breen (Rhondda) 5-2, 4-7, 2-0
Neil Chandler (Cotswold) bt Michael Newcombe (Cardigan) 11-1, 8-1
Final:
Neil Chandler (Cotswold) bt Andrew Cowlin (Taunton) 8-3, 7-7
Taylor Takes Second Successive Qualifying Slot In Welsh Open
Welshman Paul Taylor earned a place in the main draw of the Welsh International Open for the second year in a row after success in the World Bowls Tour & Professional Bowls Association UK National Qualifiers in Bristol.
Taylor, a 20-year-old from Bridgend, will join fellow Bristol qualifier Neil Chandler, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, in the Welsh Open, while Robert Chisholm, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Scotsman John Candlish, from Prestwick, were winners of the parallel events at the Cumbria IBC in Carlisle.
Taylor fought off two opponents from Gloucestershire before reaching the Qualifier 7 final in Bristol – where he faced fellow Welshman Craig Jones, from the Heatherton club.
But Taylor was too strong for 25-year-old Jones, winning 9-2, 7-3 to earn a place in the Welsh International Open for the second time.
Englishman Neil Chandler was in fine form in the other qualifying group – winning his quarter-final and semi in straight sets, dropping just two shots in the latter.
In the final, the 35-year-old took on Taunton’s Andrew Cowlin, who had despatched Exeter’s Robert Paxton, the world No21, in the quarter-finals. After winning the first set, Chandler clinched the game after tying the second – his 8-3, 7-7 victory giving him the opportunity of his first taste of World Bowls Tour ranking event action.
Robert Chisholm marked his return to the World Bowls Tour for the first time for two years when he beat Stuart Cruickshank in the Qualifier 4 final in Carlisle. But, after winning the first set by a 10-1 margin, 23-year-old Chisholm dropped the second without scoring a shot.
But the Tynesider regrouped in the best-of-three-ends tie-break to claim a 10-1, 0-8, 2-1 win over his Elgin & District opponent.
John Candlish last appeared in a WBT event in the 2007 World Championships in Norfolk. The 39-year-old had to despatch a pair of fellow Scots in the countdown to the final – then faced compatriot John McHutchison in the climax.
McHutchison, from Coatbridge, had reached the final after surviving tie-break games in the previous two rounds – but the 35-year-old was unable to force a decider for the third time as Candlish clinched victory in a 7-4, 5-4 scoreline.
The Welsh International Open – the final ranking event of the season - will be held from 31 January to 6 February 2009 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Official website: www.worldbowlstour.com Watch all of the action live - and re-live the excitement of all matches as replays, downloads and on DVD - on www.247.tv
Thanks to Howard Harding